RUGBY FOOTBALL

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 July 1941, Page 7

RUGBY FOOTBALL

UNITED DEFEAT CELTIC. COBDEN AND KOKATAHI WIN. Soundly defeating their nearest opponents, Celtic, by 12 points to ml,, at. Rugby Park, on Saturday afternoon, United seniors put themselves in an unassailable position in the championship. This was the only senior match at Greymouth, and a fair attendance witnessed a good match. There was little that was spectacular in the game, the back movements seldom getting far, but the forward play was of a high standard, and the tussle was interesting, though United always seemed to be carrying too many guns for their opponents. They appear certain to go through the competition unbeaten, the only blemish on their record being a draw with Hokitika. In the other senior matches, both of which were played on the home grounds of the Westland teams, Cobden defeated Hokitika, and Kokatahi defeated Star. New junior and third grade competitions were commenced, and in the former, Magpies, winner of the first competition, and Celtic were victorious. Technical, who won the first competition for third graders, opened well with a handsome victory, and Blaketown and Cobden drew.

UNITED 12, CELTIC NIL. Though United were not as strong as usual for their match with Celtic, the three juniors they had to call upon were quite successful, and the : blue-and-whites scored a decisive victory, by 12 points to nil, after leading by six points to nil at the end of the first spell. They scored three tries and landed one goal from a penalty. It was a disappointing game, as far as back play was concerned, but the forwards played splendid football, in which the more concerted work of the winners was a decisive factor. Celtic won much more of the ball than their opponents, as a result of the good hooking of Hansby, but the backs were unable to do much with it, and they seldom got far. United’s inside backs used the line to good effect, and their wingers had less of the play than usual, but despite this Leitch, one of them scored two tries. Gillam. the United and West Coast fullback, was not as sure as usual in his handling, but his kicking, except or one or two occasions, was quite good. Croudis was-sound at fullback for Celtic, and handled and tackled well. Leitch. Wareham, and Butler were all good wingers, but Leitch had the most chances, and he made the most of them to score two good tries. Scott was the ■ better centre, though he did nothing outstanding. Hendry was the pick of the five-eighths, and his sure handling and accurate line-kicking were big assets to United. Sweetman was quick and sure in all his work, and though he had much less of the ball than his opposite, Boswell, he was much more impressive. Boswell was harassed by the United flank forwards, and his passing was too inconsistent, spelling the end of many chances for the Celtic bacxs. In the United forwards, Walton and Blair were great workers, and Shannon was a constant menace m the loose, while Hamilton was one of the best fighters in the tight. The United forwards showed better control of the ball in the loose than the green forwards. Among the Celtic pack, McNamara and W. Croudis were outstanding, but they were well supported by Bruhn and Butler, while Hansby was a decided success with his hooking. The teams were: United: Gillam; Leitch, Thompson, T. Butler: Bellis, Hendry; Sweetman; .Walton, Hamilton. Cringle; Shannon, Wyeth, Askew, Blair; Tucker. Celtic: P. Croudis; Wareham, Scott, McEvedy; Millett, Clancy; Boswell; Hoskins, Hansby, Anderson; McNamara, Roughan, W. Butler, W. Croudis; A. Bruhn. The referee was Mr. W. Rapley. United attacked from the kick-oil, and within three minutes had drawn first blood. A poor clearing kick by a Celtic back almost on his own line went along the ground, and Leitch snapped it up and ran 20 yards to score a good try near the corner. Walton failed to goal. The next try came from a fine dribbling effort by Walton, who went almost from halfway with the Celtic backs out of position, and with Blair in close attendance. Near the line he snapped the bull up, and dived over for a line try, midway between the posts and the sideline. He again failed to goal, and United led by six points to nil. at the interval.

Celtic were a trifle unlucky not to score after a sustained forward attack early in the second session, but the United forwards came away with a good rush, and before long were on the attack Celtic were penalised, and from a difficult angle fairly well out, Gillam kicked a fine goal. Celtic made renewed efforts, but United carried too many guns, and shortly before the final whistle they added another try. Leitch made a good run that deserved a try, but he was tackled short of the line, only to secure possession again, to dive over for a try after a melee. Gillam missed the kick from fairly well out, and the.game ended: United 12, Celtic nil. COBDEN 16, HOKITIKA 14. Cobden seniors defeated Hokitika, at Cass Square, by 16 points io 14, after a last, interesting game. fhe teams were evenly matched, and Cobden scored the deciding try in the concluding stages. The score was eight all, at the interval. Davidson (2), Richardson, and McLean, all promoted juniors, scored tries for Cobden, Lindbom converting two. Hokitika were awarded one penaltv try, on account of shepherding, arid Dowell and Carpenter also scored tries. Gilmore kicked a goal from a penalty, and converted the penalty try. Mr. A. Cutbush was referee. KOKATAHI 12, STAR 9. Playing at Kokatahi, the home team defeated Star seniors by 12 points to nine, after a fast, evenly-contested game. LOWER GRADES. In the junior grade, at the Park, Magpies defeated Star, who had 'only 11 players, by 14 points to nil, and Celtic defeated United by 18 points to five. , „ ~ J Technical thirds played fine foot-

ball to defeat Celtic by 15 points to three, and Cobden and Blaketown third graders drew, nine points all. In tiie fourth grade, Technical defeated Blaketown, by nine points to four. WEST COAST TEAM. Messrs. T. Mclntosh, S. Moore, and T. P. Ryan have chosen the following team to play Buller at Greymouth on Saturday next: Backs: J. Gillan; J. Wareham, R. Scott. C. Monk; A. Vaughan, S. Hendry; L. Sweetman. Forwards: J. Sinclair, R. Pedder, R. Godfrey; W. Blair, R. King, R. Birchfield, J. Wieblitz; W. Croudis. Emergencies: Backs, J. West, T. Butler; forwards, P. Sinclair, J. Haddock. BULLER TEAM’SELECTED. The following Buller team has been chosen to play West Coast at Greymouth on Saturday:— Full-back, N. Robinson; three-quar-ters, T. McManus, O. Smallholme, W. Neighbours (vice-captain); fiveeighths, A. Cummings, R. Bolitho; half-back, R. Weenink; forwards, J. Burt, P. Coyne, A. Moseley, L, Dalzell, L. Stuart, D. Neighbours, J. Fox (captain), N. Stack. Emergencies: Forjvards, C. McHerron, J. Beveridge; backs, G. Crackett, R. Humphries. IN OTHER-CENTRES AUCKLAND, July 12. Section A.—Suburbs 21. Takapuna 8; Grammar 3, Marist 3; Army 14, Otahuhu 5. Section B.—Technical 14, University 0; Ponsonby 10, Grafton 6; Manakau 17, Training College 3. WELLINGTON, July 12. First Division. —Hutt (Army) 10, University 9; Hutt 14, Wellington 12; Eastbourne 23, Poneke 14; Athletic 26, Oriental 14; Marist Brothers Old Bovs 15, Air Force 3; Petone 23, Wellington College Old Boys 12; Johnsonville 10, St. Patrick’s Old Boys 10. DUNEDIN, July 12. Metropolitan 9, Country 9. Other matches were postponed because of heavy grounds. CHRISTCHURCH. July 12. First Section. —University 16, Air Force 6; Army 14, Linwood 8; New Brighton 17, Technical 6. Second Section.—-Albion 14, Merivale 3‘; Athletic 12, Southern 9; Christchurch 15, Wigram 6; Sunnyside 17, Godley Head 6.